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Curious to learn more about preservation or ways to get involved in your community, but don’t know where to start? We’re here to help. In our blog, our preservation experts break down current advocacy issues, ways to get involved, and local St. Pete happenings.
St. Petersburg, a city surrounded by water and known for its resort lifestyle, had no pools where African Americans could swim until 1954. That changed when Jennie Hall, an 85 year old white woman from Montana, stepped forward to help the African American community build a pool. With a rather startling and unannounced moment in front of St. Petersburg’s city council in June 1953, Jennie Hall proclaimed she would be donating $25,000 for a swimming pool to serve the African American community. To prove her seriousness, she wrote a check for $10,000 on the spot and promised an additional $15,000. The City Council, somewhat cowed and taken aback, agreed to match the gift with $35,000 of city funds.
It’s not every day that you see a 100-year-old mansion being driven down the street. But that’s exactly what downtown residents encountered in the early morning hours this past Sunday as the Historic Bay Gables home at 136 4th Avenue NE was loaded onto a massive flatbed truck, destined to make history in a new neighborhood ten blocks away.
Residents and preservation advocates scored a victory Wednesday, as the Development Review Commission rejected by a unanimous 8-0 vote an effort by developers of "The Julia" to modify their plans for an 18-story condo tower slated for a .24-acre parcel on 4th Ave. N., directly adjacent to the historic Flor de Leon apartments.
As Preservation Month 2022 comes to a close, we have a lot to look back on! Join us in reviewing all the events we hosted in recent weeks in honor of Preservation Month.
The Preserve the ‘Burg Preservation Awards recognize the people, associations, and businesses helping to preserve, restore, and reuse the historic buildings and places that play a key part in St. Petersburg’s unique sense of place.
